Heat guard Ray Allen makes the three-pointer to send Game 6 of the NBA Finals to overtime. Miami won 103-100. / Robert Mayer, USA TODAY Sports

by Alex Kennedy, USA TODAY Sports

by Alex Kennedy, USA TODAY Sports

MIAMI - Ray Allen has hit more than 2,850 three-pointers, more than anyone in NBA history. But the biggest of his 17-year career may have come Tuesday night.

Allen hit the game-tying three with five seconds remaining in regulation in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. The Miami Heat went on to win 103-100, extending their and the NBA's 2012-13 season.

"It's going to be a shot that I'm going to remember for a long time," Allen said. "There's a lot of shots that I've made in my career, but this will go high up in the ranks because of the situation.

"Just being able to be in that situation where the ball bounced in our direction. We've been a part of many plays where the ball has a funky bounce to it. And I've known my whole career sometimes you just get lucky. When you win championships, it involves a little luck. That right there was luck shining on our side."

Outside of his clutch three, Allen had a mediocre outing. He finished Game 6 with nine points on 3-for-8 shooting from the field, and that three was the only one he made all evening. He also was 2-of-2 on free throws and picked up five fouls and two turnovers in 40 minutes.

Yet none of his teammates doubted him.

"Ray can be 0-for-99 in a game, and if he gets an open look late in the game, it's going down," Heat forward LeBron James said. "That's just the confidence he has in himself. It's the preparation that he prepares for every game. It's the confidence that we have in him. We've seen it before. We're happy to have him on our side. This is the reason why we wanted him, games like this."

Allen joined the Heat this offseason after five seasons with their chief rivals, the Boston Celtics. He instantly fit in, even as he came off the bench for the first time in his career.

James, who had missed a three-point attempt right before Allen's three, was screaming for the ball at the top of the key. When asked if he considered passing to James, Allen shook his head and smiled. He prepares himself for moments like this, and wanted the ball in his hands as the clock ticked down.

"It's tough, but believe it or not, I work on it quite often," Allen said. "I try to put my body in precarious situations coming from different parts of the floor, different angles to try to get my momentum going moving forward. I honestly can say I gave myself a great opportunity, a great chance to make that shot. And it wasn't unfamiliar to me. When it went in, I was ecstatic. But at the same time, I was expecting to make it."

James added, with a laugh, "If it's not me taking the shot, I have no problem with Ray take that shot, man. He's got ice water in his veins."

This is exactly why the Heat signed Allen over the offseason. He drained his share of big three-pointers in Boston en route to one championship and another Finals appearance. He even burned the Heat a few times.

"I've been on the other end of seeing him get them feet down, putting them stupid two fingers after he make the shot," James said with a laugh. "Not so stupid anymore now that he's my teammate; I love it. He's big#time.We're so happy to have him, man. He creates so much for our team. And to have someone as dangerous as that on our roster, man, it means so much."

As soon as Allen released the ball, several Heat players knew the game was going to overtime.

"Cash," point guard Mario Chalmers said. "I knew it was going in."

Forward Chris Andersen added, "He's got nerves of steel, man. He's a Hall of Famer. When he hit that shot, it was amazing."

And one of his oldest teammates offered some perspective.

"If we can finish it on Thursday, I think it could be the biggest shot of his career," said forward Rashard Lewis, who also played with Allen for the Seattle SuperSonics. "He's the reason why the Spurs aren't holding that trophy right now. Every time Ray shoots the ball, I think he's going to make it. I was a nervous wreck sitting over there, but when he hit that three, it gave us new life."